The city’s fire chief told the Common Council on Dec. 2 that remediation work at Fire Station 1 is well underway: Kelman Restoration completed mold remediation in a containment area that covers roughly half the station, and the department has completed duct cleaning on all four furnaces and HVAC systems across containment and noncontainment areas.

The chief said the next step is a full HEPA cleaning of surfaces in both containment and noncontainment areas to remove dust and material pushed through ductwork; Terracon Environmental will perform independent environmental testing after that cleaning to verify the remediation’s success. The chief described water intrusion issues at two windows and some damaged particle-board cabinets that will require replacement, and said exterior brick/ceiling repairs remain under discussion with the original masonry contractor and Johnson Controls.

The department invited aldermen to tour Station 1 to view remediation work firsthand. The council accepted the update and placed it on file.

"Once that testing is complete, it will certify that we have a safe and healthy environment," the chief said, noting the short-term goal of returning the engine and medic units to the station once testing clears the site.